A fortunate offering in a 750 ml bottle from the nearby HEB. Lifting the cork and making a pour into my Rochefort glass it delivers a dark brown liquid with amber on the edges. The head is a light tan lasting briefly except for a replenished small skim. Lifting the glass to my nose I find raisin, caramel and something yeasty. With a drink there is malt, dark plum, a slight sweetness. Most interestingly, it finishes with a persistent bitterness. The alcohol is fairly well covered up, perhaps a hint of warming. Lacking the depth of my preferred quads, Ideal Belgique is still a decent effort.

Draught at the brewery. Pours brown with a large, creamy beige head, long retention with good lacing. Aroma is moderate cookie and caramel malt, toast malt notes with dates and figs. Flavor is moderate bready, toast and caramel malt with nutty notes, dates and figs and a sweet finish. Full body and medium carbonation.

Deep dark plummy brownish amberish hue under a thin ivory/light beige head. Deep earthy dark fruit aromas with dates and figs and a bit of toast. The flavor is deeply sweet and a bit dusty and fruity like from the nose, some dates and light fig, and a boozy abbey dusty finish. Deep and a bit boozy and belgianish.

On tap at Darby’s Gastown, pours a cloudy chestnut brown with a small tan head. Aroma brings out lots of dark fruits, Belgian yeast, candied sugar and earthy notes. Flavour is along the same lines being very fruity, with lots of red dark fruits, Belgian yeast, brown sugar and earthy notes. Not authentic, but it’s quite nice. Sweet and fruity. Very good.

Join us! RateBeer is made by beer enthusiasts for the craft beer community.
Your basic membership is free and allows you to read all beer ratings.
Click here to create your account... and give your opinion!